TONY PULIS must be feeling the heat after a 1-0 defeat to Championship leaders Norwich City at the Riverside Stadium saw Middlesbrough drop out of the play-off places.

It was an entertaining game, in which the hosts played their part by creating a number of chances in the first half, but their familiar lack of cutting edge proved costly again. 

Onel Hernandez’s second-half strike was the difference for Norwich.

Pulis insists he is confident about his side’s prospects ahead of a game in-hand against Bristol City tomorrow, but says they must improve in attack.

“It is an eight-game season now,” he said.

“If we win on Tuesday, we go back in the top six and then we push on from there. The players have got to relish these challenges.

“We need to finish chances that we create. The thing we’ve lacked not putting our opportunities away. I’m not just talking about shooting, it’s making the right decision in the final third; when to shoot and when to pass and vice versa.”

Keen to stop the rot after three straight defeats, and knowing earlier results had put pressure on, Boro started with real purpose. George Friend and former Norwich man Jonny Howson tested Tim Krul from distance inside the first 10 minutes.

As the half hour mark approached, with the league’s top-scorer Teemu Pukki still very much on the periphery, Boro continued to push on. John Obi Mikel won the ball excellently in midfield before feeding the ball forward; eventually the ball fell to Howson, but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Five minutes before the break, Pukki sprung into life and really should have given Norwich the lead. Ryan Shotton completely misjudged a clearance, allowing the Finn to race clear, but a poor touch gave Darren Randolph the opportunity to make a smart save.

The second half almost started perfectly for Boro when another former Canary, Daniel Ayala, met Shotton’s long throw into the box. His header went just wide, before Howson struck a ferocious free-kick straight at Krul.

Norwich took the lead on 54 minutes when Hernandez fired past Randolph at his near post. Boro failed to clear on two occasions, and the winger made no mistake with his finish.

Just past the hour mark, Pukki failed to convert when through on goal for the second time. Aden Flint slid in to disturb his stride, forcing him to scuff his shot, but Norwich had certainly taken the initiative since the goal.

Their hold on the game grew stronger as it went on, with Pukki leading the line well despite a frustrating night in front of goal. Emiliano Buendia could have secured the points with 15 minutes remaining, but he turned Jamal Lewis’s cross the wrong side of Randolph’s post.

Immediately at the other end, Boro substitute Stewart Downing thought he had equalised, but Christoph Zimmerman’s outstretched boot thwarted him on the line as another frustrating evening petered out for Boro.

Norwich fans celebrated wildly at full time with promotion to the Premier League edging closer. Daniel Farke says he has no issues with that, but admits his players must stay focused.

“They are allowed to celebrate,” he said.

“We play for the supporters. They can dream, but the most important thing is that we keep our feet on the ground.”